Parachute chair pack



Jan. 24, 1950 H. .1. MORAN 2,495,331

PARACHUTE CHAIR PACK 7 Filed March as, 194'? s Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MORAN Maxim q & WWI.

ATTORNE S Jan; 24, 1950 H. J. MORAN PARACHUTE CHAIR PACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1947 FIG.3

FIG. 2,.

FIG. 4.

Jan. 24, 1950 H. J. MORAN PARACHUTE CHAIR PACK 5 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed March 28, 1347 v FIG.

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ATTO NEYS Patenteol Jan. 24, 195 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICZE 2, ,381 PARACHUTE CHAIR PACK Harold "J.' Moran, Trenton, N. .L, assignor to.

Switlik 'tParachute Company, Inc., Trenton, N. 'J.,' a corporation of New Jersey Application March 28, 1947, Serial No. 737,738

able for any of the three uses above-referredto,

and so that harness and pack may quickly'be released from the chair for'a jump;

A still furtherobject of the'invention ls to provide a harness capable of performingthe three functions abovereferred'to-and a parachute pack that are adapted for use "with: an upholstered chair and in which certainpf'the strapsof'ithe harness will bemaintained tin easilyr-iaaccessible positions for instantaneous use.

With these and other. objects in view, such as will appear as the description thereinmrogresses, the invention resides in the combination and arrangementof parts disclosed, in the dr win s; scribed in the specification and recitedinthe claims.

In the drawings whiehvillustrate. the preferred embodiment of thein-vention:

Figure l is a front elevationof the harnessiand pack unassociatedwith the chair or upholstery;

Figure 1A is a fragmentary view (of another form of a portion of, the device;

Figure 2 is a front elevationof the chairillustrating the position of the harness .Whenit is to be used as a lap strap;

certain parts omitted for thesakeoi. Clarity;

Figure 4 is arear elevation of thechair showing the position that the shoulder straps will occupy prior to being adju'stedtorende'r the harness useful as a crash harness or. as a. Suspension harness;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the chair showing the release mechanism;

Figure 6 is a front elevation ofth'eichairshowing the positions of the straps'when'portions of the harness are used as a lap strap;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure-6;showlng the positions of the straps when certain thereof are attached together for use as a crash harness; and

Figure 8 is a similar view-showing the-positions of the straps when they areattached together to produce a suspension harness.

Referring, now, to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the chair.

includes a bottom or'seat portion l, which is supported by legs 2 and includes also a back 3, the bottom or seat l and the back 3 being preferably relatively rigid. The bottom or seat I is adapted to support a parachute pack 4, such as disclosed in Figure l of the drawings, which pack will, when so supported, form a cushion upon which theuser may sit, the bottom or seat portion I and the pack 4 comprising the seat of the chair.

The pack 4 is preferably covered by upholstery 5 which extends upwardly to form a back upholstery 6 and over the upper and/side edges to form. back flaps'1,.8 and 9. The edges III of theback flaps L8 and than: preferably provided "with a tightening means such as an elastic I I for positioning theiupholstery on-tthe back, and one of the flaps, 9 for instance, is provided with a separable fastener I2 which releasably secures the back upholstery to the back '3 of the chair.

The form of the harness illustrated in the drawingsinclu'desa lap strap 13 which is secured to" the back of the pack 4, as at I4, by suitable means such as stitching. Each end of the lap strap '13 is provided withan element l5, which -;cooperates with a coupler 16 which may be of a quick release form, and whichmay have releasable-pins for engaging openings I! in the elements 15. If desired, one of these elements l5 may be permanently secured to the coupler so that-the latter will not become-detached from the harness. Each end of the'lap strap is turned back Figure 3 is a side elevation of .the chairiwith on itself, as illustrated in the drawings, and is provided with an adapter 18 by means of which the effective length of the lap strap may be varied -.-to adapt the lap strap to users of various sizes.

Leg straps l9 are suitably secured to the back of the pack 4, as at 20,for:instance, and the end ofseach is provided withta separable fastener-element.:2l; which isadapted to be releasably engaged with a complemental fastener element 22 carried-bythe lap strap adjacent its ends. Back straps 23 extend upwardly from the leg straps and merge: with shoulder straps 24 on the end of each of whiehis a fastener element 25. similar to the elements l5 heretofore described, and attachable tothe coupler I6 in .a similar manner.

A retaining strap leis secured to the harness and .is provided at its end with a separable fastener. element 28. In the form shown in Figure 1 the retaining strap 26 is attached to the back straps 23 by .a cross strap 21. in the form shown in Figure 1A this retaining strap .26 is divided to, form portions 26which are attached to the shoulder straps as atl40 to exert a greater vrestraining influence against the forward moveit is placed upon the chair as illustrated in the drawings and it covers all except the end portions of the straps 24, the lap strap I3 and the leg straps IS. The ends of the straps 24 are then looped upwardly through the openings 38 in the back upholstery cover, with the separable elements 25 on the ends thereof extending, preferably, slightly above the top of the back so that chair frame at the sides of the bottom or seat sup-' porting portion is provided with cones 22', over which the perforated separable fastener elements 29 are adapted to be placed and to be held in position on the cones by pins 23'.

The back of the frame of the chair is provided with a cone 24' which is arranged to accommodate the separable fastener element 28, and which latter is held releasably upon the cone by a pin 28'.

The pins 23' are carried by release cords 30, while the pin 28' is carried by a release cord 3|, the release cords 30 and 3| being secured to a release cord handle 32 that is removably mounted in a pocket 33, preferably on the bottom I of the chair frame, and is arranged so that it may be withdrawn forwardly from said pocket, upon which withdrawal the pins 23 and 28 will be released from the cones with which they are engaged, and will free the separable fastener elements 28 and 29.

For protection the release cords 30 and 3| are respectively located within housings 34 and 35, which housings are preferably flexible tubing and are conveniently secured to the under side of the bottom I of the chair frame, as at 36, and to the back as at 31.

In order that the shoulder straps 24,when not in use, may be held in a position readily accessible to the user of the chair, that is, so that they may be quickly drawn over his shoulders and attached to the coupler I6, the straps are looped back on themselves behind the back of the chair, as indicated in Figure 4, and the ends thereof pass beneath the elastic H and through openings 38 in the back cover, as illustrated in -Figure 4, these straps being held in place in said openings 38 with the separable fastener elements 25 located at a convenient point at the top of the chair frame by the elastic retaining element The suspension lines of the canopy, which latter is within the pack 4 and housed therein from the shoulders of the harness to and into the pack 4, and are connected in the usual manner to the suspension lines of the canopy.

When the harness and pack are installed on a chair, three of the separable fastener elements l5 and 25 are released from the coupler l6, when one is permanently attached thereto, and the I pack 4 is placed upon the seat bottom I, with the end portions of the lap strap l3 and the leg straps l9 suspended. The straps 23 are arranged upwardly along the front of the back of the chair and over the top thereof, so that they will hang down the back of the chair frame.

When upholstery is used, such as described,

they will be accessible to the user of the chair.

When the user desires to use certain portions of the harness as a lap strap, it is only necessary for him to bring the ends of the lap strap |3 over his lap and secure these ends together by means of the coupler I6, thus producing the arrangement illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. When, however, it isdesired to convert the harness into a crash harness, this may quickly be done by the user reaching over his shoulders, grasping the separable fastener elements 25 and drawing the free end portions of the straps 24 over his shoulders and attaching the separable fastener elements 25 to the coupler l6, thus producing the harness arrangement illustrated in necessary for the user to pull upon the release cord handle 32, whereupon the pins 23' and 28' will be released from the cooperating cones and the separable fastener elements that are attached to the cones will release therefrom, thus freeing the harness, the pack and the user fro the chair.

It will be realized that in a harness of the nature above described, when used in such a chair as has been described, the major portion of the harness is hidden from view and yet easily it may be arranged to constitute a lap strap or a crash harness where the body of the user is not only retained in the chair against excessive forward movement by resistance of the lap strap, but also by resistance applied to the chest and shoulders by the shoulder straps. Moreover, it is easy to convert the harness into a suspension harness.

While a particular form of harness and chair have been described and illustrated in the drawings, this particular form is selected merely for illustrative purposes, for it will be realized that many details of construction may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, or without exceeding the scope of the claims, and therefore the claims are not to be taken as limited to the particular construction except in so far as the limitation is necessary as a matter of law.

What is claimed is:

1. A body harness: comprising back straps. shoulder straps, leg straps, a lap strap, means for releasably securing the ends of said shoulder straps and said lap strap together, separable fastener elements carried by said lap strap for detachable engagement with complemental fastener elements on a fixed portion of an airplane, a retaining strap connected with said harness and having a separable fastener element thereon 5 fordetachable engagement with a complemental fastener "element on a fixed portion of an air plane, and Suspension straps-connected with said shoulder "straps and adapted: to be'connected to a' canopy. v

2. A' bodyh'arness com-prising back" straps, shoulder straps, leg straps, a lap-strap; means for releasabl-ysecuring the ends of said shoulder straps and said lap straptogether, means for re leasa'bly' securing'the ends of said leg straps to said lap" strap, separable" f 'ast'ener element's carried by said lap strap'fordetachable engagement with complemental fastenerelement-son a fixed portion of an airplane, a retaining strap connected with said harness and having fast'ener'element therein for detachable engagement with a complemental fastener element on a nixed" portion of an airplane,- and suspension straps connected with said "shoulder straps and adapted tobeconnected to a canopy.

3'. In combination, a bodyharness'comprising backstraps, shouldenstraps, leg straps, a lap strap, means for releasably securing the ends of said shoulder straps and 'saidlap straptogether,

separable'fastener elements carried by said lap strapf'or detachable engagement with'complementaifastener elements, on' a fixed portion of airplane, a retaining'strap operatively connected with said'harn'ess andiha'ving'a separable fastener element thereon for detachable engage- "Inent' with a complemental fastener element on a fixed portionof an airplane; suspension straps connected'with saidish'oulder straps and adapted tobe connected to a' canopmia' chair, separable fastener elements on said chair complemental to the fastener elementson said lap stra and said retaining, strap, and means 'forreleasably securing said cooperating compleinental'Tastenerelements together. J

4. In combination, a body harness comprising: bac'k straps, shoulder straps, legstraps; a lap strap, means for relea'sably securing the" "ends-"of said shoulder straps and said lap strap't-ogether, separable fastener" elements carried'by said lap strap for detachable engagementiwith comp'le' mental fastener elements'on a chair; a retaining strapoperatively' associated with said harness and having a separable fastener elenient thereon for detachable engagemntwith'a complemental fastener element on a fixed portion of'an' airplane, suspension straps connected with said shoulder straps .and adaptedto' be. connected tea canopy, a chair, separable fastener elemen'tson said chair complemental to 'the'f-astener'elements' on said'lap strap andsaid' retaining strap; means for releasablysecuringsaid cooperating 'c'omplemental "fa-stener elements together, and means ior relea'sing said last mentioned means tofree said harness fromsaid chair.

5'. In combination, a body harness "comprising back straps; shoulder straps, l'egstraps, a lap strap, mean-s 'ior releasably securing the endso'f said shoulder strapsand' said lap strap together, separable fastener elements carriedby said lap strap for detachable engagement" with complemental fastener elementson a chair; aretainingstrapconnected withsaid harness and'having a separable fastener element thereon 'fordeta'ch able engagement with a complemental fastener element ona chair, suspension straps connected with said shoulder straps 'and'adapt'e'd to be con nectedto a" canopy; a chair; separable fastener elements on said chair complemental to the fas tener elements on saidlap' "strap" and said retainingstrap, means'for releasably securing said coa separable 6 operating complemental fastener elements 'to-' gether; means for releasing said last mentioned meanstofreesaid harness from said chair, said last menti'oned'means comprising release cords and-a release-handle connected with and for actuatingal-l ofsaid release cords.

6 Irr'combination, a body harness comprising backstraps, shoulder straps, leg straps, a lap 'straprnieansfor releasably securing the ends of said shoulder straps and said lap strap together, separable-fastener-elements carried by said lap strap for detachable-engagement with complenrental fastener-elements on a chair, a retaining strap operatively associated with said back straps and having a separable fastener element thereon 'for detachable engagement with a complemental fastener element on a chair, suspension straps connected withsaid shoulder'straps and adapted to'beconnected to a canopy, a chair, se arable fastener elements on said-chair complemental to theiastener elements on'said 'lapstra and said retainingstra-p, said'bomplemental fastener elements being of the" perforated cone and grommet-type, releasable-pins 'rel'easably mounted in the perforations of 'said cones for securing said complemental fastenerelements together, release cords for said 'pins, and a handle attached to all of'saidcordsfor actuating said release cords to withdraw" said pins from said perforations.

I T. Iii-combination, a body harness comprising back straps; shoulder straps, leg straps, a lap "strap, means for releasably securing the ends of said shoulder straps and said lap strap together, separable-fastener elements carried by said lap strap for detachable engagement with complemental fa'stener' elements on a chair, a retaining strapjoperatively associated with said back straps and having a separable fastener element thereon fordetachableengagement with a complemental fastener element on a chair, suspension straps connected'withsaidshoulder straps and adapted to be connected to'a canopy, a chair, separable 'iias'tenerelements on said chair complement-a1 to the fastener elements on'said lap strap and said retainingstrap; said'complemental fastener elemerits being of theperforated' cone and gromniet type; releasable .pins 'releasably mounted in the perforations 'ofr'said" cones for securing said compl'emental fastener elements together, release 'cords for said pins, and means attached to all of said cords ioractuatingisaid release cords to withdraw said pins fromsaid perforations.

"8i Thec'ornbination'with a chair including a seat bottom and" a back, oi'a parachute pack, includinga canopy; 'reniovably' supported on said 'seatbottomas a cushion; a cover for said pack and said chair-back releasably attached to said chair; backstraps secured to said pack and extending upwardly" over said chair back beneath said cover; shoulder-straps having separable fastener' elements on the ends thereof depending from the top of said chair back downwardly over the'backthereof with said separable fastener elementslocated adjacent-the top of said chair back and held'in'position'by said'cover; a retaining strap operativelyconnected with said back straps and releasabl-y secured to the back of said chair; leg straps-operatively connected with said back straps, secured to saidpack, located beneath the {seat portion of said cover, and having separable fiastenerelements' on the ends thereof located at thefront of said chair seat and protruding from theforward portion of saidseat portion of said seat-cover; a lap, strapsecuredto said pack, have "ihg separable"- fastened elements on the ends thereof and located beneath-said seat portion of said seat cover with the ends thereof protruding from the side portions of said seat portion of said seat cover and having separable fastener elements thereon complemental to the leg strap fastener elements; a quick release device to releasably engage fastenerelements on said shoulder straps and said lap strap to releasably secure said lap strap and said shoulder strap together; additional separable fastener elements on said lap strap; complemental separable fastener elements on said chair back and said chair seat bottom for engagement with the fastener elements on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap respectively, and means for connecting said harness to said canopy.

9. The combination with a chair including a seat bottom and a back, of a parachute pack, including a canopy, removably sup-ported on said seat bottom as a cushion; a cover for said pack and said chair back releasably attached to said chair; back straps secured to said pack and extending upwardly over said chair back beneath said cover; shoulder straps having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof depending from the top of said chair back downwardly over the back thereof with said separable fastener elements located adjacent the top of said chair back and held in position by said cover; a retaining strap operatively connected with said back straps and releasably secured to the back of said chair; leg straps operatively connected with said back straps, secured to said pack, located beneath the seat portion of said cover, and having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof located at the front of said chair seat and protruding from the forward portion of said seat portion of said seat cover; a lap strap secured to said pack, having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof and located beneath said seat portion of said seat cover with the ends thereof protruding from the side portions of said seat portion of said seat cover and having separable fastener elements thereon complemental to the leg strap fastener elements; a quick release device to releasably engage fastener elements on said shoulder straps and said lap strap to releasably secure said lap strap and said shoulder strap together; additional separable fastener elements on said lap strap, complemental separable fastener elements on said chair back and said chair seat bottom for engagement with the fastener elements on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap respectively; means for connecting said harness to said canopy; means for normally securing said separable fastener element on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap to said complemental fastener elements on said chair; and means for releasing said securing means.

16. The combination with a chair including a seat bottom and a back, of a parachute pack,

including a canopy, removably supported on said seat bottom as a cushion; a cover for said pack and said chair back releasably attached to said chair; back straps secured to said pack and extending upwardly over said chair back beneath said cover; shoulder straps having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof depending from the top of said chair back downwardly over the back thereof with said separable fastener elements located adjacent the top of said chair back and held in position by said cover; a retaining strap operatively connected with said back straps and releasably secured to the back of said chair; leg straps operatively connected with said back straps, secured to said pack, located beneath the seat portion of said cover, and having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof located at the front of said chair seat and protruding from the forward portion of said seat portion of'said seat cover; a lap strap secured to said pack, having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof and located beneath said seat portion of said seat cover with the ends thereof protruding from the side portions of said seat portion of said seat cover and having separable fastener elements thereon complemental to the leg strap fastener elements; a quick release device to releasably engage fastener elements on said shoulder straps and said lap strap to releasably secure said lap strap and said shoulder strap together; additional separable fastener elements on said lap strap; complemental separable fastener elements on said chair back and said chair seat bottom for engagement with the fastener elements on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap respectively; means for connecting said harness to said canopy; means for normally securing said separable fastener element on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap to said complemental fastener elements on said chair; means for releasing said securing means, said complemental fastener elements being of the perforated cone and grommet type, said securing means for said separable fastener elements being in the form of pins releasably mounted in the cone perforations, and said releasing means comprising release cords.

11. The combination with a chair including a seat bottom and a back, of a parachute pack, including a canopy, removably supported on said seat bottom as a cushion; a cover for said pack and said chair back releasably attached to said chair; back straps secured to said pack and extending upwardly over said chair back beneath said cover; shoulder straps having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof depending from the top of said chair back downwardly over ing strap operatively connected with said back straps and releasably secured to the back of said chair; leg straps operatively connected with said back straps, secured to said pack, located beneath the seat portion of said cover, and having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof located at the front of said chair seat and protruding from the forward portion of said seat portion of said seat cover; a lap strap secured to said pack, having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof and located beneath said seat portion of said seat cover with the ends thereof protruding from the side portions of said seat portion of said seat cover and having separable fastener elements thereon complemental to the leg strap fastener elements; a quick release device to releasably engage fastener elements on said shoulder straps and said lap strap to releasably secure said lap strap and said shoulder strap together; additional separable fastener elements on said lap strap; complemental separable fastener elements on said chair back and chair seat bottom for engagement with the fastener elements on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap respectively; means for connecting said harness to said canopy; means for normally securing said separable fastener element on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap to said complemental fastener elements on said chair; means for releasing said securing means, said complemental fastener elements being of the perforated cone and grommet type, said securing means for said separable fastener elements being in the form of pins releasably mounted in the cone perforations, and said releasing means comprising release cords; and an operating handle common to all of said cords to actuate the same to withdraw said pins from said cone perforations.

12. The combination with a chair including a seat bottom and a back, of a parachute pack, including a canopy, removably supported on said seat bottom as a cushion; a cover for said pack and said chair back releasably attached to said chair; back straps secured to said pack and extending upwardly over said chair back beneath said cover; shoulder straps having separable fastener elements on the ends thereof depending from the top of said chair back downwardly'over the back thereof with said separable fastener elements located adjacent the top of said chair back and held in position by said cover; a retaining strap operatively connected with said back straps 'of and located beneath said seat portion of said seat cover with the ends thereof protruding from the side portions of said seat portion of said seat cover and having separable fastener elements thereon complemental to the leg strap fastener elements; a quick release device to releasably engage fastener elements on said shoulder straps and said lap strap to releasably secure said lap strap and said shoulder strap together; additional separablefastener elements on said lap strap; complemental separable fastener elements on said chair back and said chair seat bottom for engagement with the fastener elements on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap respectively; means for connecting said harness to said canopy; means for normally securing said separable fastener element on said retaining strap and said additional fastener elements on said lap strap to said complemental fastener elements on said chair; means for releasing said securing means, said complemental fastener elements being of the perforated cone and grommet type, said securing means for said separable fastener elements being in the form of pins releasably mounted in the cone perforations, and said releasing means comprising release cords; and an operating handle common to all of said cords to actuate the same to with draw said pins from said cone perforations, and mounted on and protruding from the chair seat bottom.

13. In combination, a chair having a seat bottom and a back; a parachute pack, including a canopy, removably supported by said seat bottom; a harness comprising back straps, shoulder straps, leg straps, and a lap strap secured to said pack; suspension straps connected with said harness and said canopy, a cover for said pack and chair seat bottom and for said back and beneath which said straps are located with their ends protruding therefrom; means releasably securing the ends of said lap strap together; means on said cover for supporting the ends of said shoulder straps for releasable engagement with said lap strap; means on said cover for supporting the ends of said leg straps for releasable engagement .with said lap strap; and means for releasably I securing said lap strap to said chair, whereby said harness is constructed and arranged to function as a safety belt.

14. In combination, a body harness comprising back straps, shoulder straps, leg straps, a lap strap means for releasably securing the ends of said shoulder straps and said lap strap together, separable fastener elements carried by said lap strap for detachable engagement with complemental fastener elements on a chair, a, retaining strap connected with said shoulder straps at the forward portion thereof and having a separable fastener element thereon for detachable engagement with a complemental fastener element on a chair, suspension straps connected with said shoulder straps and adapted to be connected to a canopy, a chair, separable fastener elements on said chair complemental to the fastener elements on said lap strap and said retaining strap, means for releasably securing said cooperating complemental fastener elements together, means for releasing said last mentioned means to free said harness from said chair, said last mentioned means comprising release cords and a release handle connected with and for actuating all of said release cords.

HAROLD J. MORAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

